The Virtual Crafting Challenge: April 2012

Make a Wish Come True

Great I hear you say, but now what? Well for those of you who would like a few ideas to get you started, here are some ideas for where you could go with this month’s theme. Feel free to use your own ideas for this month’s theme.

Create a project

You could create a project full of all the things you would love to do, the dreams you have made happen and those you are still working on.

OR you could take a leap of faith

What have you always wanted to try creatively?

Want your own craft room

Want to take a class

Want to try new mediums or techniques

So whats stopping you? Lets take a leap of faith together and see where we end up.

Often money is the biggest stumbling block to our dreams. It doesn’t have to be, if you want to make your dream happen, you just gotta be a bit creative.

You want a craft room?

Is there a spare room that has space where you could put a desk or table in, if you moved things around a little? Perhaps you could put a box of your favorite materials in there and call it your own.

Perhaps you have a cupboard or drawer in your dining room that could be dedicated to your most used materials.

How about getting one of those storage bags on wheels, or stackable boxes, so all your most used stash can be easily transported to where you craft. This could still make a big difference to you.

You want the best quality materials.

Everyone keeps telling you how great artist quality materials are, but how can you afford all your favorite colours in them and how do you even choose a pallet if you want to get better materials?

Starter sets of colours are a great way to try a pallet out if you have no idea what colours to buy. They are often available in smaller sizes making them more affordable.

Treat yourself to your favorite colour in an artists quality variation of your chosen material. Art stores sell colours individually so if the sets are out of budget, try getting just one.

Ebay is a good place to find bargains and sets that people got as gifts but weren’t into. You can pick up some real bargains on the auction sites.

Sales and special offers. If you are in no big rush, make a note of the things you would like to try, then watch the stores for specials and sales. Half terms/ holidays/back to schools are all great times to pick up a creative bargain.

Really want to learn more about a particular style/technique or artist, to take a class

If budgets are biting you, try your local library. I was surprised to find that many of the new books from my Amazon wish list were actually available from my library. Look up your local government site on the computer to locate your nearest library, they can often get books from other library’s too.

Try video sites. You Tube is a great place to learn. There are often lots of tutorials available for free from people’s blogs and on video sites like You Tube. Just use the search box on the sites to type in your material/technique of choice. Another way to do this is to visit artists blogs whose work you like. Sometimes they have free tutorials or online classes, so geography doesn’t have to be an issue.

The most important thing about this challenge is that you have fun and explore. Don’t feel pressured to have a finished item at the end of the month. Explore different styles and techniques either in person, if you have the supplies, or through research, looking online. I’d love to hear what dreams you are going to head towards this month.

You learn so much more when you take away the rules and just PLAY. Adapt this challenge to a creative style that interests you. Enjoy :)

5 Responses

Okay I shall work on this one! I have a technique I want to try out using watercolours, something I saw in Craft Stampers magazine so I will be giving that a whirl. I haven’t used watercolours before.
As for the craft room – well I’m still dreaming about my new craft room fingers crossed it all comes true soon.
Finally finished my shawl/scarf that I was crocheting and it is okay but I can see the flaws and see the areas where I need to practise a bit more and may be make another using finer yarn and less stitches :)

I just found your YouTube videos, which happily lead me here. I’m a little late for your April challenge, but intend to finish off my craft room and get at some crafting. Thanks for the boot in the butt! lol :-)

I’m doing the same thing at the moment, clearing out the craft room. Everytime I went in, I sighed and looked at all the stuff that needed putting away or was on top of the stuff I wanted to use and it was putting me off doing anything.

BOY did I do life laundry in there :0 but it was so worth it. I’ve re-homed some stuff (and its actually being used there, which is better than sitting unloved in my cupboard). Even parted with the content of my scraps box!!! Gave it to a neighbour’s children who were delighted with it. I was terrible for hording scraps, if it was larger than a pencil it stayed (groan).

Still have a few boxes to do but have been disiplined and left it with usable surfaces and somewhere to sit at the end of each tidying session. This stops me getting an entire cupboard out then loosing the will to finish it ;) I’ve been out there and relaxed! YEY. Would have done more today but high pollen levels stopped play :(

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Have fun
Billie :)

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